The China Electricity Council, TÜV Rheinland, China General Certification Center (CGC), AIKO, and LONGi jointly unveiled the Back Contact (BC) Solar Technology Development White Paper in Beijing. As the first authoritative report on BC technology in the photovoltaic industry, the White Paper provides a comprehensive overview of BC technology’s path to industrialization, its core advantages, and its potential for sustainable development. This marks the official transition of BC technology, widely considered the “ultimate form of single-junction silicon solar cells,” into large-scale application.
The event, hosted by Prof. Hui Shen, Director of the Yangtze Delta Solar PV Innovation Center, received praise and support from prominent industry experts, scholars, and customers.
Professor Martin Green from the University of New South Wales (UNSW), Australia, widely recognized as the “Father of Photovoltaics,” congratulated the release of the White Paper via video. He forecasted that Interdigitated Back Contact (IBC) technology would gradually replace TOPCon technology within the next five years, while also praising the significant industrial progress made by Chinese companies in BC applications and highlighting the technology’s immense future potential.
In his speech, Mr. Jinhua Wu, Executive President of the Solar Power Branch of the China Electricity Council, highlighted that BC technology will drive the photovoltaic industry towards improved efficiency and reduced costs.
Mr. Xiaochao Zhang, former Deputy Director of the New Energy Division at China Huaneng Group, stated that the innovation of BC technology requires collaboration across the entire industrial chain. He expressed confidence that BC products, known for their high efficiency and reliability, will provide significant value to the end-user market as they are actively commercialized.
Expert Insights: Validating BC’s Global Relevance
- Dr. Qi Gao, Technical Director of Solar Services at TÜV Rheinland, discussed the reliability standards and testing systems of BC technology from an international certification viewpoint.
- Mr. Gang Zhou, General Manager of the Solar Energy Division at CGC, shared empirical data showcasing the excellent performance of BC modules in demonstration projects.
- Dr. Yongqian Wang, Chief Scientist at AIKO, explored the evolution and future prospects of photovoltaic technology, with a particular focus on BC technology, in the context of energy transformation.
- Dr. Xixiang Xu, Chief Scientist and Vice President of the LONGi Central R&D Institute, provided a detailed analysis of BC technology’s process innovations and its role in advancing photovoltaic technology.
Record-Breaking Efficiency & Technological Superiority
This year, BC cells set a new world record for efficiency at 27.81% (certified by ISFH), just 1.3% away from the theoretical maximum. By integrating both positive and negative electrodes on the back using full back-contact electrode technology, BC cells completely eliminate front-side busbar shading, maximizing the light absorption area. This breakthrough greatly enhances conversion efficiency, improving both optical and electrical performance, and solidifying BC technology as the “ultimate form of single-junction silicon solar cells.”
During the panel discussion, Mr. Zhenguo Li, Founder of LONGi, Prof. Wenzhong Shen, Director of Shanghai Jiao Tong University’s Solar Energy Research Institute, and other experts highlighted the importance of the White Paper, BC technology’s key breakthroughs, and future challenges. The consensus was that BC technology has reached the peak of single-junction silicon solar cell development, and its maturity will drive future innovation and industry growth.
White Paper Highlights: A Blueprint for Global Adoption
The White Paper, divided into seven chapters, offers a comprehensive analysis of BC technology principles and industrialization pathways；Standardization frameworks and third-party validation；Core performance advantages (efficiency, reliability, bifaciality);Application value across utility, commercial, and residential scenarios；Ecosystem development and future trends, etc.
As the “crown jewel” of photovoltaic technologies, BC technology is set to drive the global solar industry into a new era, marked by higher efficiency and lower levelized cost of electricity (LCOE), providing significant momentum for the global energy transition.
